A few months ago, Google tried disallowing links on blogs hosted outside of Blogger. Blogger, especially the pro bloggers, started leaving in droves.

Google rethought that tactic and started allowing links again, but I think the damage has been done, just as they started telling people from certain countries that their Adsense referrals would no longer bring compensation, and then having to soften that position.

Google might see less growth than in the past. It might take time for them to notice it, though.